Share This Story!

Pistons' Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe battle for USA bid

LAS VEGAS – Big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond are teammates. Even friends. And while they share a common goal – making the Detroit Pistons better – they are also competing against each other: for a spot

And while they share a common goal — making the Detroit Pistons better — they also are competing against each other for a spot on Team USA at next summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. And looking even further ahead, they want to be considered for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Big men spots will be limited, especially with Wednesday's announcement that Kevin Durant and Kevin Love will play in Spain, and USA Basketball's fascination with and belief in Anthony Davis.

Monroe or Drummond might make the team, but it is unlikely both make it. They have defused what could have been an awkward situation.

"It's like that every day in Detroit. We play the same position in Detroit. We compete against each other and make each other better," Drummond said. "If one of us makes it, we'll be rooting for each other."

Monroe laughed off the notion that a spot on the U.S. team would impact chemistry with the Pistons.

"I don't think he felt that way; I don't feel that way," Monroe said.

If anything, it will make them both better, thus making the Pistons better, Monroe reasoned.

"We both played hard. We both competed," he said. "At the end of the day, we're on the same team and as important as USA Basketball is, we're going to be focused on winning with the Pistons."

The four-day camp ends Thursday with a Blue-White scrimmage, and Monroe and Drummond will be on opposite teams. USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo plans to announce a preliminary roster of about 20 players in January or February.

Colangelo, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke and assistants Tom Thibodeau of the Chicago Bulls, Monty Williams of the New Orleans Pelicans and Jim Boeheim of Syracuse will follow Drummond, Monroe, and other big men invited to camp (the Utah Jazz's Derrick Favors, the Denver Nuggets' Kenneth Faried and the Milwaukee Bucks' Larry Sanders among them) during 2013-14 NBA season.

Big men have been an area of concern for the USA in past international competitions because of the lack of depth. Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love were the only two true big men to receive significant minutes at the 2012 London Olympics, and Chandler was the only rim-protector on defense.

But the USA is starting to build, albeit young and inexperienced in international competition. Size will be important in next summer's World Cup, especially against Spain, which desperately wants to win the event at home. Spain's formidable front line features brothers Pau and Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka.

"All the big men here, and I'm generalizing, need more experience. They need games," Colangelo said. "We're going to be watching all of them this season. Let's see how they develop. Let's see what happens."

Without prompting, Colangelo then mentioned Drummond, whose mother, Christine, and sister, Ariana, were in Las Vegas to watch.

"Take Drummond," Colangelo said. "He's 19 years old. I can build a case for saying, 'I would never throw him out of the mix.' I would rather say, 'I'd like to keep working with him and bring him along.' Who knows what he's going to be like three, four years from now?"

Drummond said he thought he played well in the three practices, including Tuesday's 150-minute session dominated by five-on-five scrimmages.

"The coaches know what I do. I run the floor well, grab rebounds, block shots and finish strong around the rim. I know that's what they've been looking for," Drummond said. "I'm doing what I can to prove I'm worthy enough to play for them. Hopefully the coaches see that and put you in a slot where most needed, and hopefully, I get a chance to play on either team coming up in the next few years."

Monroe concentrated on showing the staff he is unselfish and can run the floor, rebound, operate offensively from the high post and baseline.

"I know people may have had some bright spots, but everything was so quick, it was hard to get into rhythm," he said. "It was very competitive. Guys were getting after it and playing hard. It will be interesting to see what happens."

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant won't be joining Team USA this summer in Las Vegas workouts, but plenty of talented young NBA players, plus two college stars, will. Flip through this gallery for the full list.
Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports